The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has renewed the public health emergency (PHE) declaration that was implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The declaration, which was scheduled to expire on October 23, has now been extended for a third time for an additional 90 days by HHS Secretary Alex Azar, according to the American College of Radiology (ACR). Unless extended again, PHE status will expire on January 21, 2021.
The extension has several policy implications surrounding telehealth provisions, Medicare and Medicaid blanket waivers, interim final rule policies, and other flexibilities for physicians that are dependent on the status of a PHE, the ACR said.
